That’s how long Joe Sakic lasted in today’s game with the Coyotes. He took one shift – 28 seconds – before shutting it down for the day because his back was bad.
This is obviously a red-siren, MAJOR setback for Cap and the Avs. He has, in essense, missed eight of the last nine games now. He has yet to play a full game in any of the three he’s allegedly been healthy enough to play in those last nine.
This is serious. A bad back can very often mean the end of a player’s career. Knowing the Avalanche and their medical staff, I would bet the ranch that they will now shut Sakic down for at least another few games and try to get this thing cured.

Not knowing the location of the injury, I can’t say how bad it is for Sakic, but as someone who has had back surgery to his low back before (1997), I can personally vouch for the fact that you’re NEVER the same again.

Sakic suffered the injury doing “cleans”, an Olympic weightlifting exercise. This is the second time an Avalanche player has hurt his back weightlifting. Prior to last season, Milan Hejduk hurt his back doing squats – and he missed a practice earlier this year with what was listed as a sore back.

No one is suggesting here that the Avs should stop lifting weights. But, um, maybe a little more care in doing them?

I’m not in Phoenix today, covering the game. I’m watching it on Altitude like the rest of you. Last time I watched the Avs on ALT (Wed. night), Julie Browman was calling it a “ballgame.”

*(Update) Avs being shut out with 18 minutes left in the third period here. Too many guys on this team play with NO passion. Wojtek Wolski is playing one dog of a game, to single one guy out. Tony Granato is definitely down on this kid right now. He just doesn’t go to the net enough – and what frustrates Tony G. and every other Avs follower is that he has the size to do it. He’s got big, thick legs and is a strong kid. But he simply doesn’t go to the net enough. And, he couldn’t be bothered to check Kevin Porter on the game-winning goal.
*(Update) Smitty just scored, which always happens when I rip the Avs on a live blog – they do something good. I still see them losing this game, though.

By the way, for those wondering: Andrew Raycroft will start tomorrow’s game against the Lightning at home. If you’re in Vegas and reading this, stop by the sports book and put down 100 bucks on the “over” for Avs-Lightning.

*(Postgame) Got this one right. Smitty’s goal was just the Washington Generals’ Avalanche’s lone goal.

Budaj outplayed by Tellqvist (shots in the game, 38-20 Colorado), although Boods wasn’t the sole reason they lost. It’s because they have too many forwards who won’t pay a price around net (Hello Wolski, Arnie) and because their power play is still god awful. No booming shot from the point, no tips, no rebounds. Just five guys standing around overpassing and giving up after the goalie makes the first save.

Paul Stastny is doing the square root of Sweet Fanny Adam since he signed that huge extension. My question to you, Av-Aholics is, is Paul Stastny somebody you would pay money to see by himself?

Don’t get me wrong: he’s an excellent player. But he got an inflated contract thanks to a CBA that overly rewards young players who have a good first year or two.

By the way, Tony Granato is saying his team played one whale of a game and deserved a better fate.
It’s called denial, folks.